[5] Holly Rankin (Jack River) said she was inspired to write the track after performing at the 2019 School Strike for Climate rally calling gate song "a protest anthem that forefronts a new generation of advocates and activists fighting for change".

It begins with a card dedicating the track to "the billions of young people driving urgent political and social change.

[8][6][10] Tyler Jenke from Rolling Stone Australia called it "likely one of the most important songs of her career, unveiling the uplifting and powerful protest anthem.

On the surface, it lands like a hazy folk-pop dream, yet stripping away those layers, we find some propulsive and honest songwriting from Jack River that can really strike a chord."

adding "'We Are The Youth' is glimmering and pumped up with guitars and percussion that properly capture the essence behind the song's message.